17 letter bombs exploded in southern China

Beijing: The state media of Southern China reported that Seven people were killed on Wednesday when 15 letter bombs exploded, with blasts reported in more than ten locations including government offices.

State media also reports at least 17 parcel bomb explosions on National Day eve in southern Guangxi province.

A series of package bombs exploded in the southwest China city of Liuzhou, killing at least seven people and injuring up to 51 people. Up to 15 (by state media the number is 17) explosions were heard across the city between 3.15 PM and 5:00 PM. Dozens of people injured after parcels containing explosives caused massive explosions in Liucheng county and Liuzhou city, in China’s north-central Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, by a CCTV report.

The Ministry of Public Security has immediately sent criminal investigators to the scene for security purpose. Local police, firefighters as well as work safety, volunteers, housing and health authorities were rushed to the blast sites.

The mastermind behind this series of blast had been identified. A famous state-run Xinhua news agency reported that police have identified a 33 year old man surnamed Wei, a native of Liucheng county, who is suspected to have caused the blasts but gave no other details. There is no further evidence about the suspect

In recent years several disgruntled Chinese citizens have bombed local government offices and public places in an attempt to bring attention to their grievances.

The rare explosions were reported on the eve of the October 1 national day, at a time when millions of Chinese travel home for the week-long national holiday. The explosions come despite stepped up security across China in the lead up to the October 1 national day holiday.

Photographs released by Xinhua showed a half-collapsed building, an upturned car and plumes of smoke, suggesting powerful explosives may have been used.

State broadcaster CCTV cited a local police chief as saying the blasts were caused by several different explosive devices, adding that “the case is understood to be a criminal one.” The blasts occurred at the seat of Liucheng county and the surrounding areas, Xinhua said. “Initial investigation showed that explosives could be inside express delivery packages,” it added.